Losing a family member is always hard. Each family finds different ways to walk through that season together. This is the story of one family's unique approach.

Tena Gerbrandt from Winkler was known for her dresses that she loved. She had several nice durable dresses that she would wear to all special occasions so much that each family member could recognize each of them easily. She also always had fabrics enough to make quilts, but when asked if they could be brought to a thrift store or used by another family member, she would always respond that she would get to the quilt one day. Unfortunately, that day never came, which is why one of the granddaughters, Rachel stepped in. 

"I just really wanted to do something to honour my grandma and to bless the family."

Pat Gerbrandt, one of Tena's daughters-in-law, describes the grandmother of the family as "the woman who invested many years teaching children about Jesus...the children she taught in Sunday School, at Awana (Winkler EMMC), the ones who came for Five Day Clubs and for Good News Club, the children in her private day-care, and her own children, grandchildren and the neighbourhood kids. That was one reason Tena didn't get her blankets sewn...but she warmly welcomed anyone and also opened her home to family, visiting friends, and a few adult boarders as well as international students."

When Tena passed away Rachel took one week to gather her grandmother's well-known dresses as well as the fabrics she had held onto for so long and put together what has now become known as The Someday Quilt. She then organized a special time the day before the funeral for the whole family to gather and stitch a part of the quilt together while sharing stories about their beloved matriarch. 

The family has now decided to put The Someday Quilt up for auction within the family to raise money for one of Tena's favourite organizations, Child Evangelism Fellowship.

 

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